How did you get into the Beatles?

[leftyguitars]

How did I get into The Beatles? I didn't! I wrote them a letter asking if I could join the band but they said that they already had a left handed bass player!

[soundmasterg]

In 1986 they re-released Twist and Shout as a single, and so they played it on the local pop station, and that was it. It sounded so fresh and different to everything else, and I just backtracked from there and expanded from Beatles stuff to the whole era, and then the roots of it. Very glad I did so too! I used to play my parent's later-era Beatles records when I was younger, but never connected that with who they were, or that they did the earlier stuff too.

Greg

[ozover50]

I heard that Lennon asked you to join and you turned the boys down....

Close, Hank. Lennon asked me to join alright..... then he heard me play!

[rickenbrother]

I was only 5 years old when the Beatles hit America. I guess I thought they were just so cool. My older brother was already into guitars and also loved the Beatles. Even my parents liked them.

[dean712]

I've been listening to rock and classic rock radio for years and just sorta developed a liking for the Beatles, as well as Wings and all the solo songs too.

Now I'm starting a second band with an old friend, and we are playing a lot of classic rockers, including lots of Beatles. I'm gaining a new appreciation for Paul's mastery of the bass guitar...

[revolver323]

In the dark days of winter 1963, I heard "I Want to Hold Your HAnd" but was not particularly impressed. Our local AM station played mostly country. But all it took was to watch Ed Sullivan on 2/9/64 (two days before my 15th birthday) to get me hooked. For some reason, I was instantly drawn to McCartney. Actually, I think I had a crush on him. I had never played bass, but my brother had an upright bass and played in jazz bands. Still, I didn't touch it until three of my friends (a drummer & two guitarists) decided we should start a group. I became Paul. It took a year for my mom to buy me a Kay electric bass and Silvertone amp from Sears. Meanwhile, I had bought The Beatles Second Album and taught myself how to play bass on my brother's upright by picking out the notes (I already played trombone, but I guess I had a natural ear for bass). "Devil in Her Heart" was the first song I learned. After that, it was all over. I didn't care for anything else. Made my living as a bass player for nearly 25 years and still make about 1/3 of my income from it. LIfe changing experience? You bet!

[tamborineman]

Good story Dave. This is what I love about the forum.

[firstbassman]

How did I get into the Beatles?

The Dave Clark Five broke up.

[cavernfan]

I was 10 yrs. old when they made their first appearance on Ed Sullivan. My older sister was really into them, but I didn't catch the "bug" until a couple of weeks later when one of my friends convinced me that they were the tops.In my book, they are still the best rock & roll band- EVER!

[charlyg]

I usually entered them through the door. Sometimes on the passenger side, and sometimes I got to go in through the other door and drive! Oh wait......



never mind

[longboard_ric]

In early 1964, at the age of 10, I heard "I saw Her Standing There' and was hooked.

The song still has the same effect on me today, matter of fact I think I'll play it now

One Two Three Four ................................

[revolver323]

Yeah ... how strange life is that an Englishman that I probably will never meet set the pattern of my life without even knowing it. Of course, I ever do meet Paul, I'll probably make a fool of myself trying to think of what to say. My guitarist friend Steve Dudas is still playing with Ringo in the studio after almost 10 years with The Roundheads, and I told him that if he ever sees Paul, to tell him I said hello and thanks. And I know that Steve will remember and do it.

[rick36]

Now I really feel old... I'll always remember the "Ed Sullivan Show" and "Hard Days Night," but "I Feel Fine/She's A Woman" really woke me up. It made me want to get a guitar (actually a bass - less strings, must be easier to play, right?). I had it figured so I could hear it every time that the 45 was played on the AM station (about every 40 minutes). After "Ticket to Ride", I was hooked.

There was, however, another epiphany. 1966 and "Revolver". When I bought it, I had never heard a single track on the LP and wasn't even 100% sure that it was a Beatles LP! What an incredible experience hearing that for the first time.

[stringsncords]

I was 14, listening to AM Radio and seeing the Ed Sullivan shows, and then it happened.... I saw them LIVE in Philadelphia - September 2, 1964, at the since-demolished Convention Hall. That was my life changing experience. I took guitar lessons, learned about 6 chords, had the nerve to try singing (it worked!), got into my first band, started working school gigs, bowling banquets, wedding receptions (there were no DJ's back then!), then got into my first club band and was working summers at the Jersey shore by age 19. All the while, playing lots of Beatles songs! I can remember sketching George's Ric in my high school notebooks, and dreaming of one day having my own... That was 44 years ago; I have 4 Rics now, and working on a few more. I'm still performing - solo acoustic now - and still playing lots of Beatles songs. Did I say life changing? More like life defining! I can't even imagine what my life would be like without the Fab 4.

[radiognome]

It's 1970 (I was 4 y.o) and the only music I had heard was country (Buck Owens and the like), and one evening my dad puts Help! (parlophone) on the record player. I stared at the speaker for the entirety of side one. Then I asked him to play it again. Then again. I asked if they had any more of this music, which they did, and asked them to play that (I played the Beatles so much my mom bought me my own record player for my room when I was 7). That moment, and hearing 'Turn, Turn, Turn' on the Homer sountrack a little later, were the watershed moments of my music listening life - other moments have come close, but never the same.

During the early fall of 1972, 'Hard Day's Night' was on local television - I had never seen the Beatles except in photographs. From the instant I saw Lennon playing that little black guitar, I wanted: 1) that guitar (never have gotten that), and 2) to play rhythm guitar, which I do to this day....